High School Sports

MONTEREY—It was all business on Tuesday evening for Monte Vista Christian pitcher Jacob Woods, who was one game away from making a return to the Central Coast Section title game. The senior right-hander was tuned in on the mound, as well as in the batter’s...

Monte Vista Christian junior Dominic Pierini and his teammates were eager to get back on the football field for their first official day of practice on Aug. 4. So much so, they were already on the field just as the clock struck midnight and wasted...

This week’s edition of the Pajaronian Sports Ticker highlights local prep athletes for their performances during the week of Feb. 12-18.    Preps of the Week Boys: Aptos High senior Carlos Gutierrez had three goals and four assists in three games played for the Mariners boys’...

Monte Vista Christian senior Nico Downie was like a lightning bolt on the football field during the 2024 fall season, using his blazing speed to zip past defenders and into the end zone. The Mustangs’ star receiver led the Pacific Coast Athletic League with 1,619...

Aptos graduate Bailey Fulton was beaming with confidence going into the 2025 softball season knowing this year just felt a lot different than the previous three. “Our team, we just clicked more and it felt like we could take it pretty far,” Fulton said. “I...

The Soquel High School football team paraded onto their home field Wednesday, sandwiched between the school’s band percussion team and the varsity cheerleaders in a special proclamation ceremony after becoming the first football team in Santa Cruz County to win a California Interscholastic Federation...

Steve Okamura was a big contributor for kickstarting the annual Apple Cider Classic wrestling tournament at Watsonville High in 2010. The longtime Wildcatz wrestling assistant coach also helped pave the way for dozens of girls who were hesitant to step on the mat in a...

Aptos senior Ryan Solorio scored eight of his 11 points in the fourth quarter to help the Mariners rally past Santa Cruz, 43-41, in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Tournament championship at Cabrillo College on Feb. 15. “We’ve gone through so many years playing...

Watsonville freshman Isabella Alvarez was crowned the Most Valuable Player at this past weekend’s Watsonville Girls Basketball Tournament.   She averaged 15 points and seven steals per game in three games for the Wildcatz who beat Christopher, DCP El Primero and Sobrato for the 3-0 sweep.   Alvarez...

Watsonville senior Fernanda Lazo tossed a pair of touchdowns to help the North All-Stars defeat the South All-Stars, 13-7, in the inaugural Central Coast Flag Football All-Star Game at Santa Cruz High School on Jan. 26.   Lazo connected with Scotts Valley senior receiver Claire Skinner...